Operatives of the Plateau State Police Command have arrested another suspect in connection with the tragic mob killing of 25-year-old University of Jos (UNIJOS) graduate and model, Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, popularly known as “Ibee.”
The latest arrest brings the total number of suspects taken into custody to four, as law enforcement agencies intensify investigations into the horrific incident of extrajudicial violence that has sparked nationwide outrage.
The tragic event unfolded in the late hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, at an off-campus residence in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State.
According to official reports, the victim was confronted by a group of youths over allegations surrounding a missing iPhone 12. Rather than escalating the matter to law enforcement authorities, the group subjected Mbaya to severe physical assault and torture until he became unconscious.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Plateau State Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, revealed that the command received a distress call at approximately 11:20 p.m. on July 26 from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
”Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately mobilized to the hospital, where the victim was identified as Ibrahim Mbaya. Unfortunately, he was confirmed dead on arrival by the medical doctor on duty,” DSP Alabo stated during an official press briefing.
Following preliminary investigations, police detectives swiftly arrested the first three primary suspects: Rinji Fwanji (25), Emmanuel Newyear (30) andNensemka Fwanji (22).
The newly apprehended suspect, whose identity is being withheld pending ongoing interrogations, was tracked down following intelligence gathered from the initial trio.
The brutal murder of Mbaya, a vibrant young creative and recent graduate has triggered intense condemnation across academic institutions, civil rights groups, and social media platforms under the hashtag #JusticeForIbrahimMbaya.
The University of Jos Alumni Association and international non-governmental organizations, including ActionAid Nigeria, have issued statements strongly condemning the attack and warning against the growing menace of “jungle justice.”
”No allegation of theft or any other offense justifies torture or the unlawful taking of a human life,” stated ActionAid Nigeria in a press release, demanding a transparent, unhindered legal process and welfare support for the victim’s grieving family.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, DSP Alfred Alabo emphasized that the command has a zero-tolerance policy for vigilantism and extrajudicial killings.
All suspects are currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos and will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Plateau State Police Command urged residents never to take the law into their own hands, reminding the public that every accused individual is constitutionally entitled to due process.
Further updates will be released as the case proceeds to prosecution.
